it's our life

it's our life

the feel of the zeal

of zealot poets,

scoffing at free verse,

or poofing at form

they want to break new ground,

break away from the norm,

do that "Avant Garde" thing

and beat a dead horse to life

but in the end, poetry is this big loop

a circle of trust in the words

trusting the feelings deep inside

to venture out through the tiniest cracks

of eloquence

or chaos

in the end

if readers are slammed in their seats

one other or way

and the poetry grips them by the throat

shakes them relentlessly

to the core

they will want more,

they will hunger to have the tops

of their heads blown off

as Emily would have advanced

in her ethereal posit

poetry is what it is 

is what it was

is what it will be

it has its own life 

that possesses its authors

tags its authors

relentlessly follows its authors

prodding, poking 

provoking them

to gut check

word check

coat check

and stay awhile.

erin-cilberto

9/1/22

Reviews

[Gee]

I still shrink back a wee bit when my wife tells folk I try my hand at poetry, it feels as if I'm doing something wrong as no one else I know( in real life) picks up a pen.
I then get" can you write me a poem" them thinking my head chock full of words to pull out at the drop of a hat.
My 8 years here have been so enlightening thanks to you and all others that I look up to, read, and then try to improve.
Hope you are well Jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, they think we just spontaneously erupt with words. But has to be the right time.
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob.. poetry is a walk in the Rain... to bathe in the Sun...
or just stroll along and listen to the Song of Serendipity. gently, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Pat...
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I love the final stanza. Brilliant. I'm not the "avant garde" sort. I just take whatever my muse gives me and pass it along. I actually think of myself as more of a conduit than an "author" of anything. Perhaps that's what all poets are, conduits of meaning beyond the words they write, reaching for something grander and better than themselves that there are simply no words for.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that makes two of us...I have always felt like a conduit as well...I take no credit for what I write, whatsoever....I almost feel like a total plagiarist.
j.

[Katrina Mckeown]

You certainly have a way with words … you are a wordsmith j .
Poetry certainly leads its author which can be most annoying while your just about to drift off to the land of nod and an idea and poetic words pop into your head so hence you jump out your cosy slumber to pen down those thoughts on the spot because we all know if we don’t…they will vanish into the night.
Katrina

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, they will definitely vanish.
thank you for your kind review, Katrina,
j.

[Moonie]

I began writing with rhyme when I was a teenager (although I never understood meter) but now I prefer free verse way more because it allows for more variation and creativity. Though I still like remixing it by sprinkling rhyming words in between.
Another great poem by you. Humans, especially poets cannot be kept in seals. It is our nature to rebel.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I do the same...sprinkle the rhyme and pour a bit of alliteration over the top.
Thank you for your kind words, Moonie,
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Jacob, there is no doubt Emily would be slowly nodding her head and a gentle smile would govern her mouth’s shape as she read these words. She would look you dead in the eye and say, perfect. Don’t change a word,

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind review, Winston,
j.

[Stella Armour]

Chris hit the nail on the head "Poetry is where it leads you"
Once written and shared then it belongs to whoever wishes to inerpret it in their own mind.
I admire the complexity of form, but also just as much i enjoy a simple few lines which i can resonate with, touch my soul with a few words and you can make me smile or cry .

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I only hope to touch with my words...if I can, then it is success...
thank you, Stella,
j.

[Andrew John]

Yes, "it has its own life". I often think that when any of my friends never bother to read any of my stuff. I realise that, when it's a rhyme (sonnet or otherwise) or freeverse, they don't have any interest. "Oh, I'll look in on your stuff, Andrew." Then they don't. Durr! Bah! But yours is a pleasure to read, J.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

friends will often not read or read and just be nice because their interests lie elsewhere.
it seems only poets find interest in other poets' writes.
thank you,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

I thought about my life with poetry, how it started with Tennyson as a child and a love of rhyme and meter. Then at the ripe old age of forty writing my first poem and dallying for quite some time with form before branching out, after becoming aware through other writers, there was another way to use the words which had greater impact. To me it just seemed like a natural progression, though my muse often takes me back to a lyrical write when she chooses. My library is full of both and I am just as happy with some of my earlier efforts as I am with newer writes. Poetry is where it leads you. The muse is in the driving seat and I follow and I can never be quite sure where I will end up J.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

It is like getting on a carnival ride and just letting it take you where it will....that is how it is for me with poetry.
thank you for your insights and sharing your process, Chris,
j.

[andrew mitchell]

A life expressed on paper and or a love of writing poetry , nice combination don’t you think. The art of poetry forever branching out only to be pruned by its owner or readers alike to return to its core.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

really insightful words, andrew,
thank you,
j.